Earth possesses one “world ocean.

” However, those conducting oceanic research generally recognize

the existence of five major oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic oceans. Arbitrary
boundaries separate these bodies of water, but they are largely defined by the continents that frame
them. In the Southern Hemisphere, however, 60° S latitude, which corresponds to the approximate
position of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, separates the Southern Ocean from the southern portions
of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. Many subdivisions can be made to distinguish the limits of
seas and gulfs that have historical, political, and sometimes ecological significance. However, water
properties, ocean currents, and biological populations are not constrained by these boundaries. Indeed,
many researchers do not recognize them either.